Page 42 of Devlin (Lighthouse Security Investigations Montana #4)

Devlin, Cole, and Todd talked as the three finished breakfast. “Logan said we can all stay three more days, and then Cole and I’ll fly back,” Todd said. “You stay as long as you’re needed.”

“She’s thinking of coming back to the States.”

That pronouncement had both Cole and Todd staring wide-eyed at Devlin before erupting into grins. “Holy shit, man,” Todd enthused. “I would say that you move fast, but then this reunion was a decade in the making.”

Devlin chuckled ruefully and nodded. “Our breakup was on me and for all the wrong reasons. But, we’re looking back, realizing we’ve spent the time apart growing. Our meeting here wasn’t planned. We’re not knocking how it happened, just fucking glad it did happen.”

“Happy for you, bro.” Cole leaned back in his chair. “Who are you talking to today? I’m going to keep reviewing the video feeds from last night.”

Todd added, “I’m working with Casper and Sadie on a few more workers.

Casper said he found out that Charlie had a minor criminal record in Australia before coming over here.

Said his dad bailed him out several times for minor drug offenses, illegal gambling, and public intoxication.

Nothing major until he stole some money from an employer.

It appears Charlie’s dad bailed him out every time but must have threatened him with his last brush with the law.

Next thing, Charlie is here working in a refugee camp. ”

Devlin’s eyes narrowed. “Shit. I was going to talk to Robert this morning, and I don’t want to wait. But Charlie will be next on my list.” He turned and watched Robert walk out of the dining hall. “Think I’ll hit that now.”

With that, the three men cleared their trays and headed outside.

Robert was already out of sight, but Devlin headed straight to the logistic office in the admin building.

As soon as he approached, he spied Robert at his desk, firing up his laptop.

Robert looked up, and his lips pressed tightly together.

“I’d like to talk to you,” Devlin said, stepping inside the office.

Robert inhaled deeply, then waved his hand toward the chair in front of his desk. “Yeah?”

Devlin settled into the chair and, without delay, said, "Mia and I are back together."

Robert looked to the side, his jaw tight, but he said nothing.

Continuing, Devlin said, "I know you two were close. I know you dated. I'm coming here to let you know that as long as there's no interference from you, I have no problem with you. I also want to inform you that Mia wanted to tell you herself."

Robert's gaze jumped back to Devlin.

Pressing on, Devlin said, “She's a good woman with a good heart. She cares about you as a friend and wasn’t in favor of me coming here, even though I need to talk to you about some things happening in the camp. I told Mia that men understand things differently and that you'd appreciate me coming, even if you didn’t like what I had to say.”

Robert held his gaze, then finally scoffed. “I bet she was real happy with that, wasn't she?”

Devlin shook his head, but his lips quirked upward.

“Mia is her own person, and I would never interfere with that.

And she's also a person who would've preferred telling you about us herself.

I'm not here to swing my dick or piss a circle around her.

I just wanted you to know and hear it from me.

I don't interfere with who she's friends with. I respect her choices and friends. And the fact that she has remained friends with you after you two dated a few years ago tells me that you must be a good man.”

At that, Robert's brows lifted in surprise.

The two men were quiet for another moment, and then, finally, Robert nodded.

“I knew it was over years ago between us.

She's an easy woman to fall in love with, but something always stopped her from becoming mine. She never gave me details of her past relationship with the mysterious man who broke her heart, but I knew a part of her would never fully allow herself to give everything to me. When she realized my feelings were deeper, she broke off our relationship, offering friendship only. It hurt like hell, but for a woman like Mia, I would take friendship with her over nothing any day.”

Devlin understood exactly what he was saying and nodded in agreement. “Did you come out here because of her?”

Robert hesitated for a moment, then shrugged.

“Honestly, yes and no. I was looking to move up, and being the lead logistics and supply chain officer for a huge refugee camp was going to look fucking good on my résumé.

We hadn't talked for a few months, but I heard she'd taken a job out here, and that settled it for me.

I didn't know if she was still hung up on the guy from her past, but again… just being around her was enough to make anyone happy.”

“Fair enough.”

A muscle in Robert's jaw tightened, and he held Devlin's gaze. “My question to you is, can you make her happy? From what I understand, you broke her once.”

“I'm not going to discuss my past relationship with Mia, but years have passed… a lot of water under the bridge. We’re back together now, and I don't plan for it to change. And that, Robert, because you're a friend of hers, is all you need to know.”

Robert nodded slowly. “Okay. Well, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do.”

“That's the other reason I wanted to come talk to you?—”

The sound of running footsteps caused both men to turn toward the door. Farid burst through, his gaze darting between the two men. Panting, he gasped, “Something is not right!”

Before he could say anything else, Devlin's phone buzzed in his pocket. Grabbing it, he answered, “Cole, talk to me.”

“Moses is looking for you. I told him you were with Robert, and he's headed your way. Something's up with Enock.”

“Get over here now. Farid just came in and said something is happening.”

More footsteps sounded, and Moses barreled into the room. With all the commotion, Dr. München followed from his office. “What is happening?”

Leaping to his feet, Devlin growled, “What the fuck is going on? Where's Mia?”

Farid cried, "Mia said a truck broke down, and Enock came to take her to it. She never called back, and when I checked, Moses didn't know where Enock was."

“There was no call about a truck breaking down,” Moses said.

“Where the fuck is Mia?” Devlin roared just as Cole and Todd raced into the small office.

“We don't know,” Moses said. “I rallied my men and told them to head out in all directions.”

Devlin stood, his eyes wild as complete mental paralysis hit him. The only thing running through his mind was Mia.

“I have access to a helicopter,” Moses said as his expression tightened. “We could cover more ground, but my pilot isn’t here now?—”

“I can fly it,” Cole said, jarring Devlin as he jerked his head up and down.

“I’ll get our group on it,” Todd said, pulling out his phone.

“The truck… she said it looked odd,” Farid said, his chest still heaving from his dash from the warehouse.

All eyes turned toward him. “What? What did she say?”

Farid swallowed. “She was talking to Charlie. She said that the inside of the truck wasn’t as deep as the outside made it look.

He joked with her, and then it wasn’t too long after that truck left that Enock came by.

Said a truck broke down, and he would look for it.

He said she needed to go because the driver was worried about spoiled food.

They left. It’s been over an hour, and she hasn’t called back. ”

Devlin whirled around to Robert. “Find that truck driver.”

Robert leaned forward and tapped on his keyboard. “I… I don’t know… which one would it be?”

Todd stepped back into the room. “I have the security view. The truck Mia was looking at when talking to Charlie is this one.” He turned his phone to Robert, who nodded as he continued tapping on his keyboard.

“The driver is a former refugee who got a job with Nyanza Trucking. Ngelema Bwanga. That’s the driver’s name.”

“Congolese,” Moses barked, stepping closer. “That name… he is from the DRC.”

“We have many Congolese refugees here and are now working in Uganda,” Dr. München protested. “We can’t suspect a man based on his name.”

“No, but we can based on their actions,” Devlin growled, heading to the door. “Robert, pull up anything you can from his employer, then work with Farid to see if that truck and driver has worked on the days you’ve noticed food missing. Moses, show Cole where the helicopter is kept.”

“I’m going, too,” Moses said. “If one of my men is in danger or in on what has happened, I want to know.”

“As long as you don’t get in my fucking way,” Devlin said, his eyes narrowing on the security officer. “No one gets in my way when it comes to Mia.”

Moses barked out the location as he and Cole hurried from the room. “We’ll meet you at the bird once Todd gets our people on the satellite and I get our equipment. Five minutes tops.”

Ravi and Elizabeth were standing just outside the doorway. As Devlin started past them, Ravi asked, “Has anyone seen Charlie today?”

Devlin whirled around. “Charlie?”

Elizabeth said, “We had a meeting this morning, but he never showed up. I’ve called around, but no one has seen him.”

Farid’s eyes were wide. “He left the warehouse area right after he and Mia talked this morning.”

“Fuck!” Devlin shouted as the web of people grew who might know something about Mia’s disappearance.

Dr. München’s conflicted expression left his face as he hastened over to Robert. “You’re right, Mr. Devlin. Go find her.” Looking down at Robert, he said, “I’ll help you and Farid.”

Devlin stormed out of the office with Todd, his pulse a drumbeat of fury and fear. Every step felt like he was moving through quicksand, his mind racing ahead to one singular goal—find Mia.

Todd was already on the radio with LSIMT, relaying information and coordinating their search plan. Cole, without hesitation, climbed into Moses’s Jeep and sped off down the dusty road toward the waiting helicopter. The urgency of the moment crackled in the air, electrifying every movement.

Devlin and Todd didn’t waste a second. They barreled into their guest quarters, where everything they needed was prepped and ready.

Without a word, they pulled on their body armor.

Weapons were loaded with precision, fueled by adrenaline and determination.

Their tactical gear was donned, and after grabbing Cole’s equipment and gear, they headed back outside, where the heat was oppressive as the sun cast waves off the baked earth.

The vehicle rumbled to life, and Devlin barely waited for Todd to get in before gunning the engine.

Dust billowed behind them as they sped toward the helicopter’s location, urgency pulsating in every fiber of his being.

Mia was out there. And whoever was responsible was about to learn that there was no force more dangerous than a man willing to burn the world down to get her back.